Self-Sufficiency Made Simple

In this episode, I outline why Self Sufficiency Made Simple has been created what to expect and the show layout.

I am your host Jo Flintham and I’ll take you through weekly tips and hacks to becoming more self-sufficient using what you have now and starting at whatever level you're at.

Growing your own food keeping chickens and bees, making your own fermented or preserved food and making homemade products to use every day is simple and easy. This show is designed for the beginner and beyond with something for everyone.

New episode dropping every Wednesday and special guests joining us from time to time to share their knowledge and know-how in all things self-sufficient.

Be sure to subscribe to get your weekly dose of self-sufficient living goodness.

Sponsored by SoH Farmlet - Hobby farming with heart.

This episode is going to be a little bit 'Woo'. I am all about the Woo and anyone who knows me understands that I make decisions and take actions based on my intuition.

If you are thinking what the hell is Woo and what the F does it have to do with growing your own food and being self-sufficient let me share.

I know for many gardeners that their garden is their sanctuary, their happy place. It is the space they go to when they feel out of kilter or when they need to not people any more. 

Woo, as I see it is just energy. The energy we have in our bodies, the energy we feel when we see someone we love or the opposite, that feeling when you know there is tension between people. It’s also the energy of your garden, the feeling you feel when you step into your garden and all the stress and tension just takes a backseat. 

This energy comes from the vibration that everything on this earth has. The tree in your yard, the device you are reading or listening to this on, the chair under your bum or the floor under your feet. Now to go one step deeper, these vibrations have different frequencies. 

Like the song good vibrations, we can pick up on good vibrations. That means we can also feel those heavy dark vibrations and lots of variations in between. 

Take a moment to feel what vibe you might be in right now? Are you feeling loved and warm all over and are giving off vibes that say to those around you ‘hey, I am an open person who loves life’ or are you currently feeling annoyed or meh and giving off vibes that say to the world ‘stay away’?

Think about how you feel in these situations and what energetic message you are sending out into the world…

• When you receive an acknowledgement from someone
• When things aren’t going right
• When your dog comes over to you for a pat
• When watching the news
• When your friend or partner gives you a hug
• When you're tired
• And when you are in your garden. 

Being in your garden or any place in nature can help to increase your happiness and help you feel more at peace than you may think. 

There have been various studies done that show being in nature for even a short amount of time can improve your mood and overall feeling of well-being. It’s a positive vibe, something that gardeners have known for forever. 

Why do you think we all get out there as much as we can?
Good vibes.

Even this week in the crazy rain I got out there in my gumboots and raincoat and planted seeds, harvested veggies and talked to my plants. 

Yes, I talk to my plants, more on that in a minute. 

You see, for me being outside in my garden, with my animals and connecting with nature on any level is a must. My body and soul feel like they wither away like that bit of ginger in the back of your fridge crisper draw that has been there for months. I feel drained of all goodness. 

Being in my garden, even the overgrown totally overtaken by weeds section fills my energy levels back up again. I observe the bugs, I talk to the frogs, listen to the birds, I even ask the red-bellied black snake we named Cecil if he is feeling good today, even if I can’t see him or her.

This morning in the rain I just watched the droplets running down along the branches of the big gum tree in my garden. I noticed how they all formed perfect individual droplets but how they are all part of all the water on the planet.

This made me smile. It helped me feel connected to something bigger than me and it allowed me to focus on all the possibilities, opportunities and positive things that exist in my world and the world as a whole. 

So why is this relevant to actually growing food?

Well, when we feel connected and inspired we take action. We don the boots and get started on things that would otherwise seem impossible or at least overwhelming because we can see how we are part of the bigger picture.

Taking time to connect ourselves to what we are growing, to water our garden, to touch a plant or to just be with our thoughts in nature helps perspective enter our consciousness, and when we have perspective the things that seem like big scary things don't seem so big or scary anymore. It's then that we can see the possibilities available to us.  

I mentioned earlier that I talk to my plants, and I totally do. It makes me feel good and I am sure it makes them happier too. 

There have been studies done where people have spoken to plants in different ways and have seen marked differences in how they grew. 

I am generalising here but the studies had 3 groups of the same plants. Group A, B and C. All plants had the same soil, same amount of light and same watering regime.

• Group A was exposed to positive words throughout the day. They were told they are loved, beautiful, appreciated, wanted, valued etc 
• Group B was exposed to negative words at the same rate throughout the day. They were told they were stupid, useless, ugly, waste of space, hated, disgusting etc.
• Group C was the control so had all the same growing conditions but were left alone and not spoken to. 

 

Many of the studies showed that plant A grew taller, faster and looked more healthy overall than the control and that plant B looked stunted, had less growth and looked a little worse for wear. 

Can I say that I felt sorry for plant B.. No one wants that kind of negativity thrown their way on a daily basis. 

I am sure there are a heap of scientists out there who would have a counter-argument to this finding, but for me, it was no surprise that these plants reacted the way they did. 

I have started to interact with my rose geranium plants whenever I go by.  I tell them they are lovely and smell so beautiful and they have responded in kind by increasing growth.  Plus I then smell like rose geranium which I lurve. 

I also planted loofa late in the season and I started to tell it that I loved it no matter if it had time to produce fruit or not. It is valued and looks amazing and just a week later I have fruit. Could be my impeccable timing but I feel that my kind words and thoughts helped just a little. And, even if they didn’t, it makes me feel good. 

When I feel good vibes I want to do more good things. That means I want to grow more yummy food and try things that I haven’t tried before.

So my message for this episode is to get out of your head, get into your garden or if you don’t have a garden, start one. Or, just go and be in nature. Visit a park or go for a walk down a trail whatever you can do where you are to connect with nature. 

I know this will help to boost your happy vibes and lift your mood just a bit more. I know we all currently need a little more of the good stuff in our world.

More information

Full show notes at www.sohfarmlet.com.au/podcast

Blogs – www.sohfarmlet.com.au/blog

Download Free – Chicken Keepers ‘Chicklist’ For Beginners

Download Free Guide Getting Started With Composting

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This episode is sponsored by my soon to be released Self-Sufficiency Made Simple Composting Masterclass. This masterclass will help you go from wasting food and money to creating your own gold star garden soil system without mess, cost or hard work. The masterclass will show you how to choose, create and get started with your own simple system, all in your backyard.

Register your interest via email [email protected]

 

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[email protected]

 

Subscribe

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Review

I would be eternally grateful if you could give me a review as this will push the podcast out to more people, and it would make my heart sing, I’d love to hear what you have to say and what’s your favourite bit (and I will be giving a few shout outs each week).

For apple listeners, you can review HERE.

For other players follow the review link (if available) and leave a review on FaceBook or Instagram.  

 

Share

I would also love it if you could share this podcast with anyone you feel would enjoy conversations about growing food, keeping chickens, bees, rescue animals, making homemade products and all things self-sufficiency related.

I am so pleased and feel very privileged that you chose to join me this week. Thank you!

 Let’s do it again next Wednesday. xx

14 Must Have Tools for The Vegetable Garden

I call these the must-have list because they make gardening life a tonne easier. Of course you don’t ‘have to have’ every item, you can adjust according to your gardening needs. 

If you don’t have some of these don’t feel you need to run out and buy them right away. Wait and see if you need them and then buy the right ones for you.

1. Gloves 

I started with gloves because they are a gardeners saving grace. Some gardeners are totally pro gloves with every activity and some love the feeling of dirt on their hand but when it comes to handling spiky plants, putting in timer stakes or rooting around in an area where there may be a bitty or 2 then your gloves are your best friend. 

Like most items on this list there is a wide range of gloves and even wider price range. I like to go for ones that are flexible but thick with a little bit of extra padding on the palms and fingers. This is because I use my gloves for heavy duty activities. When I am doing light activities like hand weeding, planting seeds or seedlings, light pruning and some harvesting I go bare hands all the way. 

Choose the gloves that are compatible with the type of work you would wear them for. 

2. Hand Trowel & Hand Fork

I find these are a must have. If you haven’t heard of these before let me explain. A trowel is a hand sized mini shovel and a hand fork is a mini hand sized fork. If you have raised beds I am sure you already have these in your kit. 

Hand trowel is ideal for planting, digging, harvesting and smoothing. Hand fork is ideal for aerating the soil, cultivating, light weeding and more. 

Handy tip - turn them upside down and use the handle to make the hole for your seeds or seedlings. 

3. Digging Fork

Because we have heavy clay soil I have 2 of them I use them that much. Each new garden bed requires it to be forked beforehand. Using a spade or shovel when the clay is hard is like digging into concrete and when it’s wet it sticks to the blade. This is why the digging forks are forking priceless in our garden. 

 A digging fork can be used for a variety of things. Turning compost, turning soil, aerating and cultivating garden beds, loosening soil around plants and spreading mulch. 

Don’t confuse a digging fork which is what we are talking about with a pitch or sometimes called a garden fork. A garden digging fork has 4 to 6 thick tines that don’t flex. A pitch or garden fork has 6 or more thinner tines that are flexible. It is used to move large quantities of lighter material like compost, mulch, straw or dry grass.  You might choose one of these if your garden calls for it. I have a spunky purple one that I use to pick up horse poo. 

4. Hoe

A garden hoe is great for getting into places where weeds might be a little out of reach during the growing season especially if your garden beds are large or a little crowded. There are several types of hoe that might be good for your garden. Depending on the job will depend on the hoe. 

If you want to weed your garden use a paddle or draw hoe as it’s designed to slice weeds off at their base. Use it like a broom, just like you are sweeping the weeds. 

Another option is a stirrup hoe. This one you can stand at the end of the row and use a back and forth motion to cut through the roots of the weeds without too much soil disturbance. 

Handheld hoes are available too but I use my trowel most of the time so I didn’t bother with one. 

5. Secateurs 

Secateurs or garden shears are a must. And if you have a hubby like mine who likes to use them to cut hoses and all sorts of non plant materials then guard them with your life. 

Your secateurs will be used for harvesting, pruning and taking cuttings. Keep them clean and sharp.  Ideally clean them after each use with some alcohol. This will help prevent spreading diseases from one plant to another, even ones you didn’t know about. 

Sharpen them or have them sharpened when needed. Sharp secateurs means less crushing damage to plant stems and this means less plant stress and potential for disease.

And don’t use your secateurs for non-plant things, as tempting as it is! This is what the next must-have item is for.

6. Scissors

It’s amazing the things you need scissors for in the garden. Twine to tie back plants, opening bags of compost, mulch etc, cutting off plant labels that just don’t want to budge from their pot holder, opening seed packets and fertilisers, clearing out drip line nozzles, cutting hoses ect.  I use just old household scissors, nothing special. 

7. Shovel and/or spade

Firstly let's talk about the difference between a shovel and a spade.  

A spade is generally wider with a curved blade with a little folded bit at the top called a step designed for you to step on and apply downward force. They have a shorter fatter handle with a T or D grip at the top. They are used for digging trenches, edging by helping to break apart the dirt as you dig into solid ground. 

A shovel has a longer blade that is often curved inward, they have long handles that can sit at an angle to the blade and they don’t have a T or D grip on the top of the handle and they don’t have a step as they aren’t designed for a downward force like a spade. They are used mainly in garden beds and for moving loose dirt. 

Choose your garden weapon wisely. If you only have raised beds or pots then it’s unlikely you will need a spade. 

8. Rake

A rake can be very handy in the garden. Again depending on your garden needs will depend on the rake you need. There are more rake choices out there than there are days in a month but by working out what you need it for will reduce the choice to one or maybe two.

For raking leaves or cut grass on the lawn go for a plastic leaf rake.

For levelling or loosening soil or raking rocks and larger clumps in garden beds then for a metal or bow rake which has hard thick metal tines

I have always purchased the lower-priced products and have found them to work just as well. 

9. Garden hose with adjustable nozzle 

This is one you don’t want to scrimp on. Get yourself a length of hose suitable for your garden size and location from the tap. No point buying a 10-metre hose when the corner of your vegetable garden is 25 metres away from the tap. 

You also want to make sure that all connections are good quality and on tight. Check them regularly. 

An adjustable nozzle means you can adjust the flow strength and flow type to suit the plant you are watering. 

A few extra tips. 

If you have hard to reach plants use a watering wand. 

If you are someone who gets frustrated easily don’t use an all in one recoil unit, go old school and wind it up yourself and put it on a hose hanger.

If you are on tank water get yourself a timer that will cut out after a set period of time. The amount of times I have left the hose on after using it and it has popped due to the pressure is too many to count. We now always set the timer for 60 mins or less so that in the event that I leave it on and it has a failure we can only lose a limited amount of precious water from the tanks. 

10. Watering Can

A hand watering can is used for hand watering but also for liquid fertiliser application. It’s far more directed than using a hose attachment. Make sure to clean the rose out regularly to prevent blockages, especially if you are using organic homemade garden teas like manure or weed tea.

11. Flexi Tub

The all-purpose do everything garden tool. Haul compost, soil and mulch. Mix fertilisers carry harvests, the list is endless. Including keeping all your hand tools and bits and bobs together. 

12. Wheelbarrow

This one speaks for itself. If your garden isn’t big enough for a full-sized barrow then consider a smaller caddy on wheels. When moving heavy items like bags or bulk soil you will save your back. 

 

13. Timber Stakes

These are super handy. Use them to prop up top-heavy plants, make a teepee for beans, peas or tomatoes. Lay them in the garden to delineate growing areas, especially handy when you have planted seeds in an established garden bed. 

 

14. Compost System (bin or worm farm)

Having a system to break down organic waste into usable compost is a must-have in my opinion. Especially if you are an organic gardener. For ideas on what system is suitable for you check out episode #4 Getting started with compost or my blog how to get started with composting. 

It might seem like a lot but I guarantee that when you are out there in your garden having the right tools will make all the difference to how enjoyable your vegetable growing experience is. 

This is my list and there are many many more tools out there that may be helpful to you. Before you dig deep into your pockets and buy all the fancy tools, ask yourself what will that tool do? Will it make gardening easier and can I do the same thing with a tool I already have?

This approach has saved me from coming home with all the gadgets.

More information

Full show notes at www.sohfarmlet.com.au/podcast

Blogs - www.sohfarmlet.com.au/blog

Download Free - Chicken Keepers 'Chicklist' For Beginners

 

Reach me

Instagram http://www.instagram.com/sohfarmlet/

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/sohfarmlet

[email protected]

Subscribe

Have you hit the subscribe button yet? If not click subscribe so you don't miss an episode.

Review

I would be eternally grateful if you could give me a review as this will push the podcast out to more people, and it would make my heart sing, I'd love to hear what you have to say and what's your favourite bit (and I will be giving a few shout outs each week).

For apple listeners, you can review HERE.

For other players follow the review link (if available) or leave a review on FaceBook or Instagram.  

Share

I would also love it if you could share this podcast with anyone you feel would enjoy conversations about growing food, keeping chickens, bees, rescue animals, making homemade products and all things self-sufficiency related.

I am so pleased and feel very privileged that you chose to join me this week. Thank you!

 

Let's do it again next Wednesday. xx

 

Perennial vs annual or biennial what do they mean when it comes to growing food and is one better than the other? 

This episode I will simplify what each means, the pros and a few considerations to growing perennials. I will also share my top 10 favourite perennials that are relatively easy for anyone to grow and why they are my faves.

This is a must-listen for the lazy or time-poor gardener. 

 

Full show notes at www.sohfarmlet.com.au/podcast

Blogs www.sohfarmlet.com.au/blog

Download Free Chicken Keepers 'Chicklist' For Beginners

 

Reach me

Instagram http://www.instagram.com/sohfarmlet/

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/sohfarmlet

Email [email protected]

Subscribe

If you haven't subscribed yet do that now.  I really don't want you to miss an episode, you just never know what tip or hack will be the one that changes the way you are self-sufficient.

Review

I would be eternally grateful if you could give me a review as this will push the podcast out to more people, and it would make my heart sing, I'd love to hear what you have to say and what's your favourite bit and I will be giving a few shout outs each week. 

Share

I would also love it if you could share this podcast with anyone you feel would enjoy conversations about growing food, keeping chickens, bees, rescue animals, making homemade products and all things self-sufficiency related.

I am so please that you chose to join me this week. Thank you.

Let do it again next Wednesday. xx

I am the first to admit that I am a slacker in this department. I always seem to forget about plant labels until after I have planted my seeds, and by the time I get around to it, I have forgotten what I planted where. It’s really surprising how fast you forget what you did 4 days ago. 

What usually happens is that I plant 4 of the same thing (this year it was zucchini and okra) and forget the lesser loved or used vegetables. 

In this episode, I share my top 10 tips for Easy and Cheap Plant Label Ideas including my favourites. 

More information
Full show notes www.sohfarmlet.com.au/podcast
Blogs – www.sohfarmlet.com.au/blog
Download Free – Chicken Keepers ‘Chicklist’ For Beginners

Reach me
Instagram http://www.instagram.com/sohfarmlet/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/sohfarmlet
[email protected]

Subscribe
Have you hit the subscribe button yet, No? you can do that HERE for apple. I really don’t want you to miss an episode, you just never know what tip or hack will be the one that changes the way you are self-sufficient.

Review
I would be eternally grateful if you could give me a review as this will push the podcast out to more people, and it would make my heart sing, I’d love to hear what you have to say and what’s your favourite bit (and I will be giving a few shout outs each week). Click HERE to review and then select ‘ratings and reviews’ and ‘write a review’.

Share
I would also love it if you could share this podcast with anyone you feel would enjoy conversations about growing food, keeping chickens, bees, rescue animals, making homemade products and all things self-sufficiency related.

I am so please that you chose to join me this week. Thank you!

Let do it again next Wednesday. xx

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!!! Can you believe we made it here?

This episode is a little bit of a different flavour. I wanted to reflect a little on 2020 and ask you a few questions to help you decide what 2021 will look like for you.

1. What is important to you?

2. What do you want to achieve in 2021?

3. Who do you need to be to live the way you want?

Taking stock of the year that has been and taking time to consider what YOU want 2021 to look like. 

Full show notes can be found at www.sohfarmlet.com.au/podcast

Who doesn't love water-saving solutions! We are all more water-wise these days and with good cause. By implementing some smart water-saving solutions in the garden it saves you time, saves the plants from dying and helps care for mother earth.

Here are my 5 top tips plus a bonus tip.

#1 Water crystals

#2 Drip or mini irrigation system

#3 Water slowly

#4 Harvest water

#5 Wicking beds

#Bonus - MULCH!!!!

 

Full show notes can be found at www.sohfarmlet.com.au/podcast